* As of announcement date. Amongst digital still cameras with optical zoom.

There are high-zoom cameras and there is the incredible Cyber-shot H400 with an incredible 63x optical zoom range – the highest ever in a compact digital camera.

Nothing is out of reach of the extraordinary magnification range of the easy to carry, bridge-style Cyber-shot H400 with its huge 63x zoom (equivalent to 24.5-1550mm focal length in 35mm format) which stretches from wide angle to super-telephoto, accommodating any conceivable shooting situation.

Capture outdoor scenes or expansive family group scenes with everyone in the frame. Or observe wild animals and birds from a respectful distance without disturbing them in their natural habitat.

Optical SteadyShot cuts the risk of blurred, jittery pictures – even at high zoom settings or when you’re holding the camera at arm’s length, you’ll enjoy richly-detailed 20.1 megapixel photos that bring every memory to life. To enjoy on your TV or share on the web, simply press the dedicated ‘Movie’ button and film crisp HD video clips to enjoy.

All that shooting power doesn’t come at the expense of comfortable handling and easy operation. The contoured DSLR-style body feels great in your hand, with an ergonomic grip you’d expect on bigger, more expensive cameras. As an extra touch there’s an electronic viewfinder to help frame scenes accurately, even when you’re shooting outdoors in blazing sunshine.

Intelligent Auto takes the guesswork out of achieving top-quality results. The DSC-H400 automatically recognises a wide range of shooting scenes, taking care of exposure and other settings so you can focus on what’s happening in front of the camera.

Don’t worry about missing the special moment while you’re out shooting - the high-capacity X-Series lithium-ion battery provides power for around 300 shots between charges – giving you more opportunities to capture the action in everyday situations or while you’re travelling.

If you’re about with friends, Party Mode automatically adjusts sensitivity, exposure and colour for vivid memories of those fun evenings together. Advanced Flash boosts the camera's sensitivity, effectively extending flash range to make further-away subjects appear brighter. It’s handy for indoor shots or dusk when your camera's built-in flash can struggle to reach the action.

The DSC-H400 high-zoom digital camera from Sony is available to pre-order now from http://www.sony.co.uk and goes on general sale in UK from April 2014.